crossing atlantic ocean by yacht

What Size Yacht To Cross The Atlantic? (Here’s What You Need to Know)

Crossing the Atlantic in a yacht is an ambitious but rewarding endeavor.

Whether youre a recreational sailor or a seasoned professional, the size of the yacht you choose will make a world of difference on the journey.

Before you set sail, you need to consider a number of factors, such as the number of people on board, the size and type of crew, the length of the voyage, fuel and crew requirements, route of crossing, weather conditions, and emergency services available.

In this article, well cover all these topics and more to help you find the right size yacht for your Atlantic crossing.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The size of yacht needed to safely and comfortably cross the Atlantic Ocean will depend on factors such as the number of people on board, the type of voyage, and the experience of the captain and crew.

Generally, the vessel should be a minimum of 36 feet in length and have enough stowage capacity to carry enough supplies and provisions for the voyage.

The yacht should also be outfitted with the necessary navigation, communication, and safety equipment to make the voyage.

Lastly, it should be well-maintained to ensure reliable performance throughout the voyage.

What To Consider When Choosing A Yacht Size

When deciding what size yacht to choose for an Atlantic crossing, there are several key factors to consider.

The number of people on board, the size and type of the crew, and the length of the voyage will all factor into the size of yacht you need.

A larger yacht will provide more space and comfort, but will also require more fuel and crew to manage.

It’s also important to consider the route of the crossing, the type of weather that is expected, and the type of emergency services available along the way.

The size of yacht should also be determined by the purpose of the crossing and the preferences of the crew.

For instance, if the purpose of the voyage is primarily recreational and the crew is smaller, then a smaller yacht may be more suitable.

On the other hand, if the purpose is more commercial and the crew is larger, then a larger yacht may be the better choice.

The type of vessel is also important.

Sailboats, motorboats, and catamarans all have different requirements for size, fuel efficiency, and crew.

For instance, sailboats require larger masts and rigging, which can limit the size of the vessel.

Motorboats, on the other hand, can be larger and can travel faster, although they also require more fuel.

Catamarans are typically the largest vessels, but they also require the most crew and are the most difficult to maneuver in rough seas.

Finally, the length of the voyage is an important factor.

A longer voyage requires more fuel, supplies, and crew, so a larger yacht may be necessary.

Additionally, a longer voyage may require more sophisticated navigational and safety equipment, so it’s important to consider the type of emergency services available along the route.

In conclusion, choosing the right size yacht for an Atlantic crossing requires careful consideration of several factors.

The number of people on board, the size and type of the crew, the length of the voyage, the route, the type of weather, and the type of emergency services available all need to be taken into account.

Ultimately, the decision should be based on the purpose of the voyage and the preferences of the crew.

Number Of People On Board

When deciding on the size of yacht to choose for an Atlantic crossing, the number of people who will be on board should be the first factor taken into consideration.

The size of the yacht should be able to comfortably accommodate the number of passengers and crew members, with enough space for sleeping, eating, and lounging.

Any extra space that may be needed for storage should also be taken into account.

It is important to note that larger yachts will require more fuel and crew to manage, and may be more expensive to maintain.

Therefore, it is important to make sure that the size of the yacht matches the needs of the voyage and the crew.

Size And Type Of Crew

When selecting the size of your yacht for an Atlantic crossing, it’s important to consider the size and type of the crew.

If there will be a large number of people on board, a larger yacht is likely required to provide enough room and comfort.

On the other hand, a smaller yacht may be more suitable for a smaller crew.

Additionally, the size and type of crew will determine the type of personnel needed to manage the yacht.

For example, it may be necessary to hire a captain and crew if youre crossing a large body of water.

If the crew consists of experienced sailors, a smaller yacht may be sufficient as they will be able to handle all of the boats operations.

Its important to consider the number of people on board, experience level, and the amount of space available when selecting the size of yacht for an Atlantic crossing.

Length Of Voyage

When deciding what size yacht to choose for an Atlantic crossing, one of the most important factors to consider is the length of the voyage.

A longer voyage will require a larger yacht to provide more space and comfort for the crew and passengers.

On a longer voyage, there may be more people on board, providing a need for additional sleeping and eating areas, as well as more room for recreational activities.

Additionally, a larger yacht will be able to carry more supplies, such as food, fuel, and spare parts, making it more self-sufficient and able to handle any unforeseen events.

It is important to consider the route of the crossing, as some areas may be more prone to rough weather or dangerous conditions, and a larger yacht may be better equipped to handle these conditions.

A larger yacht may also require more fuel, as well as a larger crew, to manage the vessel.

Ultimately, the size of yacht will depend on the purpose of the crossing and the preferences of the crew.

Fuel And Crew Requirements

When deciding on the size of yacht to take for an Atlantic crossing, it’s important to factor in the fuel and crew requirements.

A larger yacht will require more fuel and crew to manage, especially if the voyage is longer.

The crew size and type should also be taken into account when deciding on the size of yacht.

A larger yacht will require more crew to manage the vessel, and the crew should be experienced and knowledgeable in seafaring and navigation.

It may also be necessary to hire extra crew members for certain tasks such as cooking, engineering, and maintenance.

Additionally, the yacht should be equipped with the necessary safety equipment such as life rafts and flares, as well as navigational equipment such as depth sounders and GPS.

All of these factors should be considered when deciding on the size of yacht for an Atlantic crossing.

Route Of Crossing

When deciding on the size of yacht for an Atlantic crossing, it is important to consider the route of the crossing.

For example, a longer voyage from the United States to Europe will require a larger yacht than a shorter one from the Caribbean to the United States.

A larger yacht will provide more space and comfort, as well as more fuel and crew to manage.

Additionally, the route of the crossing should be considered for emergency services that may be available along the way.

For example, if the voyage will be close to land, there may be medical facilities and emergency services that could be reached in the event of an emergency.

However, if the voyage will be far away from land, it is important to consider the type of emergency services that would be available if needed.

Weather Conditions

When deciding what size yacht to choose for an Atlantic crossing, it is essential to consider the weather conditions that may be encountered during the voyage.

A larger yacht is more likely to be able to handle a variety of weather conditions, such as high winds, heavy rain and strong waves.

The size of the yacht should also be considered when it comes to the type of weather expected.

A larger yacht is more suitable for long-distance voyages, as it is more capable of handling the prolonged and potentially extreme weather conditions.

It is important to note, however, that larger yachts may require additional fuel and crew to manage in order to safely navigate the seas.

When preparing for an Atlantic crossing, it is important to research the expected weather conditions for the route.

Knowing the weather conditions that may be expected on the route can help to determine the size of the yacht that is suitable for the voyage.

For example, if the route is expected to experience strong winds, it is best to choose a larger yacht that is capable of handling the windy conditions.

Additionally, if the route passes through areas with higher than average waves, a larger yacht is much more suitable for the voyage.

It is also important to consider the type of emergency services available along the route.

In the event of an emergency, such as a medical emergency or a vessel in distress, a larger yacht is more likely to be able to access the necessary help.

Additionally, a larger yacht will be able to carry more supplies, such as food, water, and other equipment, which can be essential in an emergency situation.

Overall, the size of the yacht for an Atlantic crossing should be based on the number of people on board, the size and type of the crew, the length of the voyage, the route of the crossing, the type of weather that is expected, and the type of emergency services available along the way.

With the right amount of research and planning, the perfect size yacht can be chosen for a successful and safe Atlantic crossing.

Emergency Services Available

When planning a transatlantic crossing, it is important to consider the type of emergency services available along the route.

On a smaller vessel, you may not be able to access all of the necessary services, so it is important to choose a vessel with enough room to accommodate the necessary crew and equipment, as well as enough fuel to reach the destination in the event of an emergency.

When considering the size of the yacht, the type of emergency services available should be carefully assessed.

For example, if you are crossing during hurricane season, it is important to choose a vessel that can withstand the high winds and potentially heavy waves.

If you are crossing in an area where search and rescue services are available, it is important to have a vessel large enough to be spotted quickly.

It is also important to consider the type of emergency services available at ports of call along the route.

If you are traveling to a remote area, it is important to have a vessel with enough room to accommodate the necessary crew and equipment to make port in the event of an emergency.

If you are traveling to a port with a significant presence of medical and emergency personnel, it is important to have a vessel large enough to accommodate the necessary personnel.

Overall, the size of the yacht for a transatlantic crossing should be based on the purpose of the voyage, the number of people on board, the size and type of crew, the length of the voyage, the route of the crossing, the type of weather that is expected, and the type of emergency services available along the way.

By taking all of these factors into consideration, you can ensure that you have the best possible vessel for your crossing.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the size of yacht for an Atlantic crossing is an important decision that requires careful planning.

The size of the yacht should be determined by the number of people on board, the size and type of the crew, the length of the voyage, the route of the crossing, the weather conditions, and the availability of emergency services.

Ultimately, the size of the yacht should be based on the purpose of the crossing and the preferences of the crew.

With the right information and careful consideration, you can make an informed decision on the right size yacht to choose for your Atlantic crossing.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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How To Cross the Atlantic, Routes and Timelines

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Before the time of ocean liners and airplanes, crossing the Atlantic used to be a great adventure that took a long time to complete. Nowadays, it’s very different; it’s still a great adventure, but the time it takes to complete has changed.

Here’s how long it takes to cross the Atlantic on various types of boats.

Looking at this table we can clearly see that the time it takes to cross the Atlantic has decreased exponentially. Some big developments were of course the steam engine that allowed for bigger and much faster ships to travel the Atlantic while also bringing a lot more cargo.

If we look at the Sailboats in this list, we can see that the more hulls you have the faster it goes (if you want to know more about how that works, check out this article)

There is not a significant difference in time to complete between the catamarans and the trimarans in the short run, but in a circumnavigation of the world, the difference can be huge.

A monohull on the other hand is slower, this is mainly due to the amount of drag this type of hull has.

This table compares different types of boats under the same conditions and adds an airplane as a point of reference.

Transatlantic Crossing in Record Time

Here are the records for the fastest crossings of the Atlantic in a Sailboat.

The 2880 Nautical miles(5330 Km) long route starts at Ambrose Light in New York and finishes on an imaginary line between Lizard Point and Ushant of the coast of England

As you might have noticed, there aren’t any numbers for catamarans since the  classes are divided between monohulls and multihulls.  Since trimarans (three hulls) are faster than catamarans (two hulls), there is no real point in racing a cat.

What you also may have noticed are the ridiculously high speeds these boats are doing. Bear in mind that these are racing boats optimized for speed and made to smash world records.

There’s a big difference between the 28 knots a racing trimaran will make and the 9 knots a cruising catamaran will.

What Type of Sailboat Do You Need To Cross The Atlantic?

Crossing the Atlantic can be done in almost any sailboat or ship. As a matter of fact, it has already been done in small rowboats and open catamarans, so everything is possible.

If your question is what boat should I use to get a somewhat comfortable and safe trip, well, then we have something to talk about.

Choosing between a monohull or a multihull has more to do with personal preferences. Some people really like the stable platform of a catamaran, and others dont think it’s a real way of sailing and wants to be heeling over to its side to fully get that true sailing experience.

For me? Catamaran every day, speed, and comfort, but I’m also not a purist sailor in any way. I’m an adventurist, and the boat is merely a way to experience adventures.

The size I would say matters, bigger usually means it’s safer and can handle bigger waves, although it might be harder to handle on your own I something happens to you or your crew mid-sea.

Most people seem to cross the Atlantic with a boat in the 35 -45 ft spectrum, which fulfills both requirements!

If you are interested in digging deeper into what sized boat you should get, check out my article on Best Sized Catamaran for Ocean Sailin g

Other aspects you might consider are the  size in terms of space onboard , how many people are you doing the passage with, the more people, the easier operating the boat will be. This assumes you have a well-trained crew that you know well.

And what are you going to do once you get there, is it the end of your trip or is the beginning. If you’re doing everything just to cross the ocean and then get someone else to bring it back, that’s one thing. But if its the start of a long adventure, the requirements are different. You are going to want more space for scuba gear, and other toys.

I do think the most important aspect is that you have a seaworthy boat that it’s capable of withstanding weeks on end with sailing in many times rough conditions.

This means that your equipment spent has to be the most expensive and handy, but it needs to be in good condition, and you need to be able to handle your great in every weather.

What Gear Do You Need to Cross the Atlantic?

Not including your average stuff when sailing, such as life vests, etc. There are some great that you might not be on your everyday say m still that could be of high importance during such a formidable sail as this.

• Emergency food
• Satellite coms
• Storm drogue (want to know what it is and how it works,  read  this)
• Spare parts(tiller, sails, etc.)
• Entertainment

Different Routes to Cross the Atlantic

Westward route: europe to the caribbean.

According to Jimmy Cornell, a well-known sailor and circumnavigator that has made his own research on the subject, Las Palmas is one of the biggest ports of departure for sailboats crossing the Atlantic.

Around 75’% of the sailboats that arrive in Las Palmas on the Canary Islands will depart for an Ocean crossing.

Getting to The Canary Islands, you should not be in a hurry; there are many very beautiful places en route. No matter where you are coming from this is a good stop well worth a visit.

Coming from the north of Europe, you have France, Spain, and Portugal. Entering from the Mediterranean, you have Italy, Croatia, Greece, and so many other interesting places that you shouldn’t miss unless you’re on a very tight schedule.

Once you reach Las Palmas, you can either go straight towards the Caribbean island of Barbados, or you can do a stop along the way at Cap Verde.

Planing a Stop on Cape Verde

A stop at cap Verde makes sense in many ways; for one, it makes the transatlantic trip more manageable by dividing it into two sections.

The second reason is that it gives you the possibility to stock up on fuel and water that you might have used more than you thought. Since Cap Verde is well developed when it comes to receiving boats doing this type of passage, there is no technical expertise on the island.

From Cap Verde, you can also take a direct flight to Portugal and onwards if the need arises.

Even though you might not plan to stop here, the recommendation is to at least  plan your sailing, so you pass close to the islands,  so if something happens, you can head to Mindelo port and fix it.

Another good reason why you would go close is that the further south you go, the  better chance you will have of catching those sweet tradewinds  that will take you safely and enjoyably to the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Westbound Route On a Catamaran

Sailing west is the preferred option for any sailor and especially if you are on a boat that doesn’t sail perfectly upwind, such as a catamaran.

Sailin g west and using the tradewinds is perfect on a catamaran, the sail will be faster and more comfortable than a monohull of the same size.

Looking at the 2019 ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), a 55ft french catamaran outclassed the 65 ft professionally sailed monohull with a 10-hour lead. All this while doing yoga on board, something that I can promise was not happening on the monohull.

The stable platform of a catamaran with the wind on your stern makes sailing west on a transatlantic passage perfect for Catamaran.

Eastbound Route: The Caribbean to Europe

Coming back to Europe, I would argue that the same principles are still valid: to stop at or pass by islands close enough to have the option of going into port if need, and using the tradewinds to your advantage.

Considering this, most people leave the Caribbean from Tortola, Britsh virgin islands, or St Marteen. These make great starting points for the eastward journey since they are the last point where there is plenty of fuel, spare parts, and food for the long and sometimes arduous trip back to Europe.

Though it is not necessary, many sailors make a halt at Bermuda; this is a good start to fix anything broken or wait for the right weather before your head on to the next part of your trip.

The Azores, the same goes here, you can skip it, but staying close to it adds safety and comfort if needed, and I would also stop by just to enjoy the islands. It’s a beautiful place and good for a few days of low-intensity cruising.

If you still have some energy left after the trip from Bermuda, one option is to head for a place called Horta. The place is well remembered for its hospitality towards sailors heading towards Europe.

Once you have refueled on diesel and energy, it is time to head for northern Europe. This is usually done by sailing north until the 45th latitude and then heading east.

When is The Best Time to Cross The Atlantic

Choosing a route has a lot to do with your intended purpose of the trip, are you going for a speed record, then going more north might be an option, and accepting the risk might be ok for you and your crew.

If you are going west but more interested in doing it safely and are able to spend a little more time out at sea, then the southern routes mentioned above with a departure date around November and December.

Going west on your way to the Caribbean, you’ll notice the days are getting warmer and longer; this is because going west, you also travel south towards the equator where the days and nights are equally as long be it summer or winter.

This weather window is to avoid the hurricane season in the Caribbean that ends in late November, these are the main risk and must be considered in your plan.

What Is The Best Route For an Atlantic Crossing

Taking into consideration the information above with trade winds, the possibility of breakdowns, and the collective knowledge of the area.

The best route for a westbound Atlantic crossing is from Las Palmas (on the Island of Gran Canarias) to Barbados Via Cap Verde. The best route going east is from St Marteen to the Azores Via Bermuda.

This is, of course, based on the assumptions we have discussed above, and it might not apply to your skillset or aim of the crossing.

Can You Cross the Atlantic Single Handed?

You can definitely cross the Atlantic on your own (short-handed). As a matter of fact, many do every year. Of course, this demands more of the sailor since there is nobody to ask for advice or to help while underway.

Neither is there anyone that will help you with handling sails or maintenance while underway; because of this, it is more dangerous and more difficult to solo sailor sail short-handed as it is also called.

The usual way is to either bring a crew of your own, recruit a crew from the port of exit, or find one online via crewseeker.net.

Is Transatlantic Passages Dangerous?

Sailing in big oceans is never a hundred percent safe. This is why it is an adventure if it was absolutely safe, where would the attractiveness and the excitement lie?

Looking at the data, there aren’t many accidents happening, and of those, there are even fewer that are deadly or leave the crew injured for life.

There are also ways to make it safer; we have discussed boat size and crew skills; other route selection factors are vital. It might not be the quickest to cross the Atlantic, but the southern route seems to be a safer bet.

Prepare yourself, your crew, and the boat, and the chances for accidents will still be there, but they will be small and manageable.

How Lonely Is Crossing The Atlantic?

Spending two to three weeks in the middle of the ocean can definitely be lonely, but it can also be the absolute opposite. If you’re sailing with a crew, you will share the same small space with everyone else, always bumping your elbow. If the weather is rough, you may all be a little tired, which also adds to the group dynamics.

But even if you would get sick and tired of your crew, there are ways to call back home. You might have a Satellite phone, which is expensive by the minute but a lovely way to hear the voice of a loved one back at land. Much better than a text message through Email.

Sending emails has been a pretty straightforward process since the SSB radio started to be utilized.  This type of radio is very simplistic and has good reception up to thousands of miles .

The nice thing with this radio is that it allows for data traffic, which means not only are you able to receive weather updates, but you can also contact your family through Email.

Can You Get Rescued If Something Goes Wrong?

Yes, there might not be a coast guard or anything nearby, and you might be way out to sea, but there is help to get. Since every ship is listening to some set of frequencies, usually, the first step is to call for a Mayday on that channel.

If you’re not getting anyone’s attention, then they might still see you on the AIS, Automatic Identification System, which makes anyone around you know where you are.

Many times the crossing is done together with a lot of other vessels; this gives comfort as they might also be able to help in case of emergency.

If all this fails, you probably also will have your EPIRB,  Emergency  Position Indicating Radio  Beacon , which is a gadget that can be activated through certain triggers such as water, tilt angle, or manually activated.

Once activated, it sends an emergency signal at different frequencies and relays the information back to shore for someone to come help you.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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11 myths about sailing across the Atlantic that people still believe

• November 23, 2023

What does it really take to sail an Atlantic circuit? Justin Halewood cuts through the noise to share what he and his family have learned

For many people, sailing the Atlantic Circuit is a voyage of a lifetime, encompassing both adventure and the challenge of crossing the world’s second-largest ocean. Yet, like any great adventure, it’s not immune to myths and misconceptions that can cloud the perception of what the journey truly entails. This is perhaps particularly true in an age of social media, which has undeniably helped to promulgate fallacies about living on a boat and sailing offshore.

Many Instagram accounts (ours included) paint a picture of uninterrupted serenity and often omit the everyday challenges and hard work that come with life at sea. This idealised version of sailing can lead to unrealistic expectations among aspiring liveaboards, who may not fully grasp the complexities, responsibilities, and occasional hardships involved. It’s important for prospective voyagers to view these stories with a discerning eye and seek a well-rounded understanding of the sailing lifestyle beyond the Instagram filter.

In this article, we’ll delve into some common myths associated with the Atlantic Circuit in particular, looking for the facts behind the fables. The examples below are based on our own experiences and will probably provoke strenuous disagreement as well as knowing nods.

To state the obvious, what holds true for one boat and crew may not necessarily apply to another, as each voyage is a unique combination of conditions, experiences, and perspectives.

The odds of being sunk while navigating through ‘orca alley’ might be in the realm of approximately 1 in 5,000

Orcas are your enemy

In recent times, the mere mention of orcas along the Iberian coastline has conjured visions of formidable marine predators lurking beneath the surface, poised to tear off the rudders of unsuspecting yachts. While reports of orca interactions are increasing, it’s important to remember there are no recorded incidents of wild orcas harming humans in their natural habitat – so if your boat is attacked, try not to take it personally.

Since 2020, three vessels have sunk after these encounters around the Iberian coastline, out of roughly 500 documented interactions. It is estimated that orcas make contact with only one out of every 100 boats sailing through their location. By my rudimentary calculations, this means the odds of being sunk while navigating through ‘orca alley’ might be in the realm of approximately 1 in 5,000. I would suggest the odds of getting caught up in a lobster pot along the same stretch of coastline are far, far higher, potentially with similar disabling consequences to your typical orca attack.

Though I want to avoid trivialising the matter, it was noteworthy to us that some cruisers had resorted to extraordinary measures to safeguard their vessels, including the preparation of explosives, chemicals and diesel to pour over the side.

It’s worth mentioning that the Iberian orcas, with a population numbering a mere 39 individuals, are designated as critically endangered. Any form of harm inflicted upon them falls squarely within the category of a criminal offence, as defined by an array of regulations and treaties, potentially carrying severe penalties, including imprisonment.

Take reasonable precautions by timing your passages to avoid periods of high interactions in particular areas (there is good data for this now) and the risk becomes a negligible one to be managed as for any other hazard at sea.

For the most part, encountering orcas while embarking on the Atlantic Circuit is a captivating and awe-inspiring experience rather than a cause for alarm. Cherish the moment, respect their domain, and let it serve as a reminder that we are privileged guests in their habitat.

The wind will be behind you most of the time so get ready to roll…

You’ll sail downwind most of the time

One undeniable truth about the traditional East to West Atlantic Circuit is the prevalence of downwind sailing. While the wind won’t be aft of the beam a full 100% of the time, if you pick your weather windows carefully, it can come close.

Perhaps our surprise at this was a result of being conditioned to beating into southwesterlies in the Solent, rather than sailing with the prevailing wind direction. For that reason it’s worth focusing your preparations for life on the run, preparing for rolling with lee cloths and safe stowage; having a good gybe-preventer system; and downwind sail options you’re confident with offshore (our preferred sail plan was two genoas run wing-on-wing, plus main when possible).

Cruising chutes, spinnakers and parasails can be a fun addition to your sail wardrobe but ask yourself if you’re happy gybing with them, leaving them up overnight or using them with self-steering systems, particularly if short-handed.

Justin invested in a Starlink, Hydrovane, outboard, solar, running rigging and more… and some fishing kit to catch this mahi mahi

Expensive upgrades are a luxury

Some may harbour the delusion that worn-out gear and minimal spares will suffice for an Atlantic Circuit. This notion is not only misleading but potentially dangerous. In our experience the importance of reliable equipment cannot be overstated.

The Atlantic crossing in particular is an unforgiving environment, with UV, chafe, swell and high temperatures subjecting your boat and its equipment to new and unchartered demands. These conditions have a nasty habit of finding where you’ve taken shortcuts with your preparations.

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Two common examples from our experience: Trying to get by with a single electronic auto-helm – most are not designed for continuous use in rough conditions and can fail if overworked. If short-handed, this is a vital piece of equipment and its failure can lead to dangerous levels of fatigue among crew trying to juggle hand-steering, sleep, cooking and sail changes. Take a spare or better yet, invest in a reliable wind vane system (we chose a Hydrovane).

We took a wide range of spares but didn’t use most of them. But those we did use helped us avoid stressful situations waiting for packages to arrive in remote places. Plus, the cost of spares once out of Europe can be shockingly high.

There appears to be a certain ‘make do and mend’ romantic sentimentality among some cruisers. Self-sufficiency has its charms, but it’s crucial to remember that your safety, as well as that of your vessel (and other boats nearby who may be tasked to help if your equipment fails), is paramount. Prepare yourselves and the boat as thoroughly as you can, trying to avoid over-thinking the investment in purely monetary terms.

Despite its tropical charms, the Caribbean’s no sailors’ paradise

The Caribbean is the ultimate destination

While the Caribbean may evoke images of idyllic, sun-soaked sailing adventures, it’s not always the tropical and tranquil haven it’s be made out to be (and perhaps once was), especially when compared to the more familiar waters of the UK and Europe.

Behind the Caribbean’s postcard-perfect exterior, there are plenty of inescapable downsides. Unpredictable weather, vicious squalls and choppy seas can make short passages between islands feel like relatively epic endeavours. Sweltering heat and humidity can make conditions down below uncomfortable and sleeping without fans or cooling difficult. Additionally, provisioning can be expensive, as food prices soar outside Europe.

If and when we set sail again in future, we’d be tempted to stay in Europe. The nine islands in the Azores, two in Madeira and seven in the Canaries make for a good alternative to the Caribbean, with arguably better weather and sailing conditions; cheaper and higher-quality provisioning; and well-equipped marinas. One marina in the Atlantic islands worked out at 7 euros a night for a 36ft monohull, with water, electricity and the use of washing machines and showers included!

While it is hard to beat a Caribbean sunset spent on anchor, it is important to be realistic about the pros and cons of all cruising areas, keeping an open mind to less conventional destinations.

Stock up on staples to keep your costs down

Provisioning can be incredibly expensive

As you sail away from European shores, another myth that may unravel is the idea that provisioning will be more affordable in less developed areas, with an abundance of fresh local produce. The opposite is often true.

In particular, when you reach the Caribbean or more remote areas, the cost of food can rise significantly. The islands rely on imports that are often heavily taxed, which can drive up prices for both essential provisions and dining out.

We made a hobby out of finding new record prices for our provisions, with £14 for a single cauliflower in Antigua being a favourite. The best solution appears to be to stock up as far as possible in Europe (think sauces, condiments, dried goods, luxuries), with the exception of rum that is in plentiful and cheap supply once you reach The Antilles.

Getting insurance cover can be complicated and costly

Insurance is simple

Securing insurance for an Atlantic circuit voyage is an often-underestimated challenge. Many sailors are surprised by the complexities involved in obtaining comprehensive cover for the transatlantic leg in particular, even after years of loyal custom with their existing provider. Factors such as vessel condition, crew experience, safety equipment, and planned route all weigh heavily in the underwriting process. It’s definitely worth investing time and effort in finding an insurer willing to provide adequate cover at a reasonable cost before setting off.

Don’t fall into financial wishful thinking

A shoestring budget is fine

One of the enduring myths surrounding the Atlantic circuit is that it can be undertaken on a shoestring budget, subsisting on freshly caught wild lobsters while spending life on the hook.

While the concept is well grounded in historical precedents, it’s crucial to dispel this notion for modern-day cruisers. There is no avoiding the fact that sailing an Atlantic circuit demands careful planning and financial preparedness. From ongoing vessel maintenance and renewing safety equipment, to provisioning and marina fees, the costs can quickly add up.

Be careful of economical ‘budgets’ proudly shared by other cruisers, as they often seem to omit expenditure on maintenance (I’ve sometimes wondered if this is some form of coping mechanism) and treat UK-based expenditure as an invisible line item (i.e. home insurance, phone bills and mortgage costs).

In summary, there appears to be a unique set of accounting rules for sailors that help us avoid the reality that this is not a cheap hobby.

Attempting the journey with insufficient funds may not only jeopardise your safety but also limit your ability to fully embrace the experience. In reality, while budget-conscious sailors can find ways to economise, it’s essential to acknowledge that this is not an endeavour that can be undertaken without a reasonable financial commitment.

Plan your budget then add 50%.

Adequate shade and hydration are essential for a comfortable cruise

The sun is both friend and enemy

As you head south, basking under the sun’s increasingly warm embrace is undoubtedly a delight but too much of a good thing can have adverse effects on your skin and overall well-being. Having good protection from the sun is vital to ensuring your crew don’t end up with sunstroke, sunburn and dehydration.

First and foremost, ensure your cockpit is adequately shielded from the sun with a decent bimini that can be left up while sailing. As you head into the tropics, having side panels to protect you from the morning and late-afternoon rays will feel like a wonderful luxury. In addition to our bimini, we purchased some simple canopies to protect the cockpit and shade the deck while on anchor and in marinas.

Furthermore, don’t forget the importance of personal sun protection. Encourage the use of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF rating, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses to shield eyes from glare. We added a cockpit bag before we left that always held a bottle of sunscreen alongside soothing aloe vera gel for post-sun exposure relief. If you’re luck with hats is anything like mine, it’s worth taking a good number with you.

Lastly, hydration is key to staying sun-smart. We weren’t really fans of soft drinks before leaving, but having refreshingly chilled beverages such as coconut water and other electrolyte-rich liquids helped us stay hydrated while providing a welcome treat on passage.

Post-Brexit voyages may be harder to plan but workarounds are possible

Cruising in schengen is off the cards

For British sailors exploring European waters post-Brexit, complying with the 90-day rule within a 180-day period in the Schengen Area presents a significant logistical challenge. Reading many blogs and articles, you’ll be told it’s crucial to maintain accurate records of entry and exit dates, as overstaying can result in fines, penalties, or even being denied entry into Schengen countries in the future.

Adhering to this rule can result in a relatively rushed dash south to the Canaries in time for your crossing. The problem comes when trying to cross Biscay before the end of August but not wanting to leave the Canaries until the trades establish typically in mid to late November. When you factor in waiting for good weather, this plan often means you have less time to explore the Atlantic coast of Europe along the way.

In our opinion to miss spending time in areas like the Spanish Rias would be to pass over some of the best parts of an Atlantic circuit. In addition, the artificially compressed time frame involved with leaving the UK later in summer in order to comply with the 90-day limit, can create pressure to accept less favourable weather windows and therefore pose higher risks to boat and crew. We didn’t think this was acceptable or in the spirit of the regulations.

But there are options. To extend your time in Schengen waters beyond the initial 90 days, it is worth considering long-term tourist visas or residency permits, a process that requires months of planning. The process is even more involved if you plan to visit America and it’s worth keeping in mind that (technically) you’re unable to sail into the US on just an ETSA.

The Cruising Association is a great source of guidance and www.noonsite.com has a helpful section for each country’s immigration procedures. Some cruisers ignore the regulations altogether – something that is perhaps more feasible in Schengen than it is in the US (or so I’m told).

Track sea state rather than wind speed

Never trust the forecast

Obtaining weather forecasts is undoubtedly a critical part of any competent sailor’s preparations for a passage but we often found them to be inaccurate, specifically in underestimating the strength of the breeze. We struggle to think of an offshore passage where we did not at some stage experience 30 knots despite typically leaving with a forecast of less than 20. Add into that the influence of acceleration zones and katabatic breezes, and predicting the wind strength felt more like a game of roulette than a science.

In the end, alongside religiously downloading our GRIBS and consulting forecast apps before departure, we also relied on intuition and experience, developing a rule of thumb to take the maximum forecasted wind strength and add 10 knots. We also started to focus on the sea state rather than wind, aiming for forecasts with short and long-range swell of less than 2m to ensure a comfortable passage.

Marinas were often great value and offered more peace and quiet than an anchorage

Anchoring is for pros, marinas are for wimps

One of the enduring myths among sailors is the belief that every picturesque anchorage promises an idyllic, peaceful night’s rest. While escaping the greedy clutches of marinas in order to spend life on the hook undoubtedly has huge appeal, this utopian notion can be quickly dispelled by a rolly anchorage (at least for monohulls). Seemingly serene bays or coves could transform into the bane of our existence as we grappled with relentless rolling caused by swell that was often barely visible. For whatever reason, the rolling is typically far more irritating than that experienced when sailing downwind in a swell, often starting in the middle of the night as surface cooling stills the breeze. Over time, we learned to welcome a steady breeze to hold the boat steady.

It is also worth noting that in many places on the Atlantic Circuit, marinas can be surprisingly affordable. We found that the Spanish Rias, Madeira and, in particular, the Canaries, offered fantastic value for the level of comfort these marinas offered versus the nearby anchorages, that in the case of the Atlantic islands, often suffer from rolling and poor holding. Despite this we often encountered overly positive accounts of various anchorages, something we felt was often borne out of a pressure to appear intrepid.

In conclusion, embarking on the Atlantic circuit is a formidable undertaking that promises adventure, challenges, and a deep connection with the open ocean. While myths and misconceptions may abound, understanding the realities of this voyage is crucial for safe and successful navigation. Dispelling these myths ensures that sailors are well prepared to face the unpredictable elements and unique experiences that make the Atlantic circuit an unforgettable journey.

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Another World Adventures

Sail across the atlantic ocean – join transatlantic sailing voyages, it’s every adventure seeker’s dream to sail across the atlantic ocean..

And we’ve helped hundreds of sailors – new and experienced – to turn that dream into reality.

Find transatlantic voyages here where you book a berth or cabin and join join as hands on guest crew on planned journeys and rallies like the ARC, or if you’d like to charter a whole boat then get in touch .

We work with a network of many incredible boats from luxury yachts, performance racers to historic traditional tall ships.

If you have the ambition to sail across the Atlantic Ocean, whether you’re a beginner or pro sailor, there are exciting options for you on board hands-on sailing vessels. Join yachts or tall ships as guest voyage crew and learn incredible new skills, as you pull together as a team to harness the wind and reach a new continent. It’s a sustainable long-distance travel option that is all about embracing the journey.

Complete our short form to let us know your Atlantic ambitions and we’ll be in touch with exciting options.

Which direction?

A big first consideration for many when planning their transatlantic is which direction to sail – east or westbound and if you’re fixed on that it will determine when you’ll go.

Westbound: Europe to the Americas & Caribbean tend to depart with the trade winds in between October-December.

Eastbound: Caribbean & Americas to Europe tend to sail between March – June (April & May most commonly).

Northbound : South Africa to Europe voyages tend to depart between April-June

How experienced are you?

Our crews are a mix of sailing abilities.

Some enter races and you’d be expected to know what you’re doing, others teach you everything you need to know on the go. You’d just need to join in with a ‘can do’ and ‘here to learn’ attitude and the professional crew will help with the rest!

Want to join a crew for a fixed departure?

We have limited spaces available on organised voyages – these trips are very popular and often book out far in advance.

First step: Explore the listings and make an enquiry on the voyages you’re interested in. You’ll receive more information by email right away and if you asked any questions we’ll get back to those as quickly as possible. In the info you receive is an intro to the skipper or crew office for the boat so you can go ahead and book with them directly if it’s the right fit. These berth options are perfect for solo travellers or couples/pairs/small groups of friends.

Or book a private charter?

Bespoke voyages are organised separately, so reach out to us through the contact form or by email for more details on these.

Or get in  touch using the contact form above so we can help you make this trip dream a crossing to remember!

Voyages to sail across the Atlantic 2024 / 2025 and beyond

2024 east bound.

• Sail from USA to Scotland via Newfoundland 2024 Clipper 60
• Sail from Caribbean (Tortola, BVI) to Azores, to UK on a Celestial Navigation voyage  Clipper 60
• Beneteau 40 or Harmony 52 yachts sailing Caribbean to UK
• Sail British Virgin Islands > Azores > UK May/June  2024 – tall ship
• Sail Caribbean to France  on a Challenge 67
• Sail Cape to Cape – Chile to South Africa via Antarctica, South Georgia and Tristan de Cuna – tall ship
• Sail New York USA to Lorient France in June 2024

2024 Westbound

• November ARC 2024 Canary Islands to St Lucia on a Beneteau 40 or Harmony 52
• November Challenge 72 ARC entry 2024 to St Lucia
• November Luxury 54ft Catamaran sailing Canary Islands to Martinique
• November Tall ship adventure sailing Tenerife to Falkland Islands
• November Tall ship sailing (Portugal)> Canary Islands > Barbados

2025  Eastbound

• February tall ship sailing Antigua to Azores to Portugal
• Sail West Indies to France March 2025
• Sail Argentina to Namibia via Antarctica tall ship Feb/March 2025
• Sail Caribbean to Rotterdam tall ship March 2025
• DARWIN200 South Atlantic Falkland Islands to Cape Town via South Georgia & Tristan da Cunha Feb-April 2025
• Beneteau 40 or Harmony 52 yachts sailing Caribbean to UK March/April 2025
• Celestial Navigation voyage sail Caribbean Antigua to UK Clipper 60 March-April 2025
• Sail NYC to Lorient France June 2025 

2025  Westbound

• January 2025 Atlantic Circuit Sail Lisbon to Suriname tall ship
• January 2025 RORC transatlantic race
• Sail Lorient France to NYC USA in May 2025
• We expect to have several tall ships and yachts making the crossing to the Americas with and independent of the ARC so email us if you have any questions!!

Check all Atlantic ocean crossings here or email Larissa on [email protected]

Want to sail, but not sure about a transatlantic voyage?  We have options for everyone. Check out:

• All sailing adventure holidays
• Ocean adventures
• Tall ship adventures

Tall Ship vs Yacht?

Finding the right boat for your journey is a important part of your planning, not just the route. Each boat has it’s own character, style and charm – and personality! And the on board experience varies hugely depending on the reason for the boat sailing – is it taking part in a race? Is it an ocean cruise slow travel experience? And so on. The degree to which you’ll be mustered to help with the sailing and life on board also varies so whether you’re keen to join a 50ft yacht or a full size tall ship we’re happy to talk you through the options to find the best fit.

What is it like on Board a Transatlantic Voyage?

Experience navigation, planning and life on board with your fellow crew who will be a mix of ages and from all walks of life.

There’s rarely an upper age limit on the voyages although some of the tall ships have more recently set a limit of 73 for their offshore voyages (please ask for details). Decisions on whether someone is a suitable crew are made on a case-by-case basis by the crew office for each vessel but the key requirement is good health and an enthusiasm to get involved.

Solo Travel Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean

We met as two solo travellers on board a transatlantic voyage, so we understand the opportunities and challenges of solo travel on long journeys at sea.

It was a life-changing experience for us and Another World Adventures wouldn’t exist without that solo travel experience.

The really good news for solo travellers is that when it comes to ocean sailing trips around 80% of the people joining are doing so on their own – so if all of your mates look at you like you’ve grown two heads when you tell them your Grand Plan then don’t worry, you’ll be in great company with the friends you’ll make on board.

Sail with Friends Across the Atlantic Ocean

As well as being an amazing experience for those travelling solo, transatlantic sailing with friends can bond you for a lifetime.

As experienced adventure travel planners, we can connect you with a reliable and responsible vessel that you can join together to make the crossing. Heck, we’ve even known honeymooners celebrate their marriage with an ocean crossing.

All that’s needed is an adventurous mindset to sail across the Atlantic.

Private Charter to Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean

If you are looking for a more personalised experience, we can coordinate bespoke voyages for individuals, groups and companies.

Let us help you find and charter a private vessel for a journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Whether it’s a bonding experience with friends, a brand contest or marketing effort, or a chance to achieve a life-long dream, we can help you navigate the best vessel choices  whether you’re 4 or 40 sailors.

Do I Need Prior Sailing Experience to Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean?

You do not always need much prior sailing experience to take on the challenge of a transatlantic sail although it is advised to ensure you and your fellow crew get the most out of the experience. Afterall, this is a really big experience to go into without knowing if it’s your cup-of-tea. For many of the boats we work with, especially the tall ships, sailing experience is not compulsory. Instead, the vessel crew will give you hands-on experience and training along the way – both on expedition sail yachts and tall ships. 

If you’re looking for an experience on a smaller vessel, you might need to have or get some sailing experience or qualifications beforehand. For example, some of the race boats or smaller yachts (60ft) require RYA Day Skipper or equivalent, so speak to us if you’d like more information. A few of the passages are even qualifiers for Yachtmaster Ocean mile makers, so if you have bigger ambitions for your sailing, please reach out to ask about that and about Watch Leader roles, too.

Be Inspired to Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean by our Previous Atlantic Sailing Voyages

Below are some voyages from the past which we’ve left up to give you an idea about routes to consider. If there’s a route you love the sound of but it’s not in the current schedule then just drop us a line to find out more. With so many changes to the sailing schedule for ocean journeys there’s a chance it’s in the planning stages, just not yet announced..!

If you’re not sure of the best option for you, speak to us about your plans and dreams for this great adventure,  so we can advise you on the best voyage route and crew to join.

Transatlantic Route inspiration

Past voyages have included

• South Africa to Canada 2019 – January – May 2019 – This was the final leg in a circumnavigation that set off in spring 2018 on board a unique sail training tall ship. Solo travellers were invited to join the crew of this remarkable vessel for the voyage of a lifetime. Unusually for the ocean crossings this voyage included lots of stops along the way.
• Sail Cape to Cape via Antarctica on a traditional tall ship from South America to South Africa.
• Sail Cape Verde to Cuba
• Sail Falkland Islands to South Africa 2018
• Sail Bermuda to the UK on a traditional tall ship
• Sail USA to the UK via the Azores on a Clipper 60 yacht
• Sail Azores to the UK on a tall ship
• Sail Europe to South America on a Dutch tall ship
• Sail USA > EUROPE (Florida to The Netherlands via Bermuda and Azores)
• Sail Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom
• Sail South Africa to Norway via Azores, Ascension Island and St Helena
• ARC – Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Canary Islands to St Lucia (via Cape Verde)

If you see a trip listed here but not on the Atlantic sailing trip page , please contact us to discuss your options. We are constantly updating this list so get in touch if you don’t see a route that works for you and we’ll see what is possible.

Westbound Atlantic Crossing Tenerife to Barbados Tall Ship 2024

Join an unforgettable 30 day hands-on westbound Atlantic Ocean crossing from Canaries to Barbados as crew

Eastbound Atlantic Crossing Antigua > Azores > Portugal

Join an unforgettable 41 day hands-on eastbound transatlantic from Antigua to Portugal via Azores

Atlantic Crossing with ARC Rally – Gran Canaria – Saint Lucia

Cross the Atlantic as part of the ARC Rally on this bucket list adventure from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia

Sail Transatlantic New York City USA to Lorient, France

Embark on a transatlantic voyage on a Challenge 67 from USA to France via St Pierre & Miquelon

Sail Transatlantic Argentina to Namibia 2025

A TRUE epic - sail a traditional tall ship from South America to Southern Africa via Antarctica

Sail Cape to Cape Chile to South Africa via Antarctica, South Georgia and Tristan da Cuna 2024

Join a Cape to Cape sailing voyage via Antarctica, South Georgia & Tristan da Cuna on a tall ship

Sail ARC Atlantic Rally 2023

Join the famous Westbound Atlantic Rally crossing on a fantastic sailing cruiser.

Sail Transatlantic Lorient to New York City

Embark as a teammate in a transatlantic voyage on a Challenge 67 from France to USA

Sail ARC Transatlantic 2024

Embark as a teammate in a transatlantic voyage on a Challenge 67 during the ARC 2024!

Atlantic Circuit Sailing Adventure

An Atlantic Circuit sailing adventure including two transatlantic crossings and some unusual port stops

Sail Transatlantic Westbound Luxury Catamaran 2024

Embark on the voyage of a lifetime sailing from Gran Canaria to Martinique on an exceptional 54ft catamaran

Sail ARC 2024 Transatlantic

The voyage of a lifetime to sail across the Atlantic Ocean with a crew in the ARC 2024.

Transatlantic Eastbound Sail Antigua – UK 2024

Join a crew to sail back across the Atlantic Ocean from Antigua to the UK

Sail Spain to Canary Islands

Offshore sailing between Malaga and Lanzarote, Canary Islands on a fantastic sailing cruiser.

Sail Around the World As Crew on a Square Rigger

Become crew on an authentic working sailing ship on a global circumnavigation. 20+ ports, 30000 nautical miles

Transatlantic Sailing Tenerife to Falkland Islands

Adventure sailing Tenerife to Falkland Islands from the North Atlantic into the South Atlantic across equator

Atlantic Crossing Cape Verde to Fernando de Noronha Brazil DARWIN200 Leg 3

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Verde to Brazil Fernando de Noronha.

Sail Caribbean to UK via Azores Tall Ship 2024

Hands on sailing a classic brigatine across the North Atlantic from Caribbean to Azores to the UK in May '24

Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean – Cape Town to Montevideo

Experience life at sea as you sail across the Atlantic Ocean on a 100 year old traditional tall ship.

Celestial Navigation Transatlantic Eastbound 2025

Navigate by the stars as you sail across the Atlantic Ocean eastbound from Antigua to UK

Hi I’m Larissa, Founder of Another World Adventures. Welcome! If you’re planning an adventure you’re in the right place. Get ready to discover epic travel inspo and a collection of hand-picked trips from my trusted network of experienced adventure experts. Think unusual destinations, expeditions, slow, solo and sustainable travel and epic journeys on land and at sea! Ever got a question? Just get in touch, I answer every enquiry myself. Enjoy!

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We believe in ‘creating better places for people to live in, and better places to visit’ through a responsible approach to travel. Read how you can travel responsibly on your adventure.

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What kind of boats cross the Atlantic Ocean? 7 Options explained

You're looking for a way to go across the Atlantic without flying. What options are out there? Here are 7 options explained. I sailed five of them across the Atlantic.

Sailing an ocean on a Small sailing vessel

Many privately owned sailing vessels cross the Atlantic to spend a sunny sailing season either in the Mediterranean or Caribbean or as part of their around-the-world voyage. It is a big deal for them and attracts all sorts of seamen and women: young ‘pirate’ dudes who have escaped the rat race, adventure couples, retirees, families, groups of friends, and single older sailors.

The largest share of the captains is between 50 – 65 years old. It's the group that has the time and money resources to sail. All sorts of nationalities make the crossing, with the French and Swedish seeming to dominate the fleet.

By crewing on a small sailing yacht, you'll be involved with every aspect of seamanship and sailing. You will learn a lot for sure. Many boats choose to stop in Cape Verde or the Azores, and often don’t have tight schedules.

Boats come in all sorts of shapes and materials. Hulls are made from steel, wood, aluminium, and today mostly of fibreglass. 90% of the boats crossing the ocean is bigger than 36ft, with most of them measuring around 44ft. (14m).

A smaller yacht could also be perfectly ocean-worthy. I've seen boats of 26 ft. crossing the pond. Some adventure people row across the Atlantic. In 2017 someone even Stand Up Paddled (SUP) across the Atlantic. Being on any boat is a luxury compared to that.

Six people (out of 100) I interviewed in my book crossed the Atlantic on a boat smaller than 36ft. and all of them would like to do it again. This year we also have Nadiem, Ocean Nomads member who'll sail across in his little sailboat.

Both monohulls and catamarans cross the Atlantic. Catamarans are generally faster, more spacious, and rock less. On the flip side: they can flip!  If  they do, it’s a major challenge to come up again. Don’t worry, this is extremely unlikely. Having seen hundreds of boats planning, preparing and making the crossing, I estimate that roughly 70% of the boats that cross are monohulls.

With Ocean Nomads we sometimes have small liveaboard sailing vessels looking for crew in the network to sail across, or members recommend a vessel from their networks.

In our brand new Ocean Nomads Crew Course , I share all the tips and tricks for finding and securing a safe sailing vessel with which to sail as crew. Eco & Adventure style. Proper preperation makes all the difference for a happy, safe and meaningful voyage.

Sail with me & Ocean Nomads in Greece in 2024! Level up your sailing skills and make ocean people connections accelerating your sailing journey. 4 vessels, 11 days, 30 nomads! Learn More. 

Sail across the Atlantic on Superyacht

Many larger yachts cross the Atlantic as a ‘delivery’, where a boat needs to be taken from point A to B. Boats have to be moved across the ocean for a new charter season, for the private owner who will hop on board again on the other side, or because someone bought it on the other continent.

Usually, paid and professional crew do these types of deliveries. As an amateur crew member, you can be a cheap extra set of hands.

A yacht is a ‘superyacht’ when it is over 24 metres (79ft.). These are  big yachts. They often have generators running every day to keep fridges and freezers going. They load up thousands of litres of fuel and water, and are less dependent on the wind.

As such, there is less risk and generally more comfort. These trips often run on a tight schedule, so there won't be much flexibility for stops along the way (like in Cape Verde or the Azores). In most cases, there will also be more people on board (five-eight people compared to three-five on smaller vessels).

Crossing on a big boat like this is faster, less adventurous, and more comfortable. The crew are often younger, and some live and work permanently on the boat. Many of them have crossed the Atlantic Ocean numerous times and are therefore less excited about it than the average ‘yachtie'.

Timelines are tight and there’s often not time for island exploration. Usually, you are expected to work hard. Also, it's not unusual that superyachts don't even use the sails to prevent damaging, and have the sails tip /top for when the owner comes on board.

Garmin Inreach Mini2

A transatlantic on a charter yacht.

If you would rather not have the pre-crossing adventure or spend too much time searching for a boat, and/or if money is not an issue, you can book a charter ocean passage. Charter trips are organised on all sorts of boats: small, big, monohulls, catamaran, and racing boats.

Numerous racing yachts cross the ocean reaching boat speeds up to 35 knots! In addition to professional crew, spots are sold and you can sign up for a wet and speedy adventure guaranteed.

A charter trip costs between €2,000 and €10,000. An organized trip like this could be advantageous if you’re on a tight schedule. It’s more likely to leave on the planned date.

At the same time, the time schedule could be a disadvantage. What if the weather window is not ideal to leave? In many cases, though not always, everything is taken care of such as provisioning and cooking, so you wouldn’t have to figure out much yourself.

Charter organisations need to comply with a lot of safety requirements and check ups to legally carry out the voyage. This assures some safety but still you need to do your homework if it's a safe ride.

Another consideration of booking this type of passage is that you won’t know your shipmates. When you search the adventurous way, you have the opportunity to meet the other sailors before you commit to joining the crew. On a chartered passage you’re stuck with whoever else has booked the trip, even if you don’t like them.

With Ocean Nomads we work together with SV Twister and have the following Atlantic Crossings planned .

Sailing the Atlantic on a Tall ship

Every year, numerous tall ships sail across the Atlantic, like the Stad Amsterdam or Oosterschelde, and this year also SV Twister :) .  Sailing across on a large traditional boat is spectacular. Many young people work on the tall ships. You could either try that or buy yourself a passage.

I wrote the above in my book, a friend of SV Twister reached out to me. Long story short, last  year 2022/2023 I, with Ocean Nomads, organizing a trip across the Atlantic, Caribbean sea, and back across the Atlantic , and I now experience this way of sailing across also. You can join this trip in 2025 .

Update! We're back from the Atlantic. And we made a film about it:) Here is a the film about Sailing the Atlantic with Ocean Nomads. My 5th Atlantic crossing.

Travel the Ocean with a Sail Boat Ferry

There are no sailing ferries (yet), although boats are being built for this purpose. At the time of writing, Voyagevert is conducting feasibility studies to construct the fastest and largest sailing catamaran for a ferry service as a sustainable alternative to flight for transatlantic travel. Also Fair ferry is looking into it.

A transatlantic on a cruise ships

Another kind of ferry are the cruise ships. More and more cruise ships cross the Atlantic to do the season on the other side. They need relocation and spots on board are sold as ‘repositioning cruises.' It's often cheaper than airfare and your house rent combined. One option that is cool, is ‘ Nomadcruise ,’ an Atlantic crossing for entrepreneurs and digital nomads.

These floating cities are not an environmentally friendly way to cross. It takes around eight days and a lot of noise to cross with a cruise ship. Data on emissions is remarkably difficult to find. Some sources state that an average cruise ship at sea emits more, and less filtered, smoke than one million cars combined each day.

In a one-week trip, a large cruise ship generates ten backyard swimming pools of blackwater (raw sewage) and 40 more swimming pools of greywater (water from sinks, baths, showers, laundry, and galleys). It also generates large volumes of oily bilge water, sewage sludge, garbage, and noise.

Sail Across the Atlantic on a Cargo ship

More cargo ships cross the Atlantic than sailboats. This is a non-sailing ship option that can take you across. Cargo ships usually rent out a few cabins to passengers. This costs a few thousand euros. Travelling with a cargo vessel can be a good alternative if you want to cross the ocean, don’t like sailing, and do not want to fly. Prepare to be surrounded by engine noise. Crossing on a cargo would take one to two weeks. Depending on the weather, cargo and size, cargo vessels run between 15-25 knots . 

There are also  sailing  cargo Atlantic crossing possibilities out there. ‘ Tres Hombres ‘ is a 32 metres Schooner transporting traditional goods like rum and chocolate between the Caribbean and Europe. Timbercoast is a 1920 built 43.5m Schooner that transports goods like coffee and gin. Both ships welcome crew on board helping out with this sustainable way of transporting goods.

My ocean sailing preference

“What kind of boat are you joining?” This was the first question most people asked me when I told them I was going to cross the Atlantic Ocean by sail. At the time, I knew nothing about boats, and thought “Does it matter? I just want to make the passage!” Having sailed across on five completely different boats across the Atlantic, I know now that the type of boat determines large part of the experience.Not just because of the boat, but because of the tasks and people involved with that type of boat.

My preference is to crew on a smaller monohull sailboat of 40-44ft – basic but adventurous and on these boats, I've met the coolest captains. Monohulls are more fun to sail. It's easier to ‘feel' the boat as opposed to a catamaran. It's kind of like a scooter versus a quadbike.

Smaller boats generally allow for more exploring and socialising time around the harbour- since there's usually less work to be done. This is the adventurous way of travelling by sailboat where you go with the weather and with others as excited about the adventure as you. I sailed as crew on these kind of sailboat for years ( Here is a video summary of my story ).

At the end, it's the people who make the trip! In my survey amongst 100 Atlantic ocean Crew & Captains who have done it, almost everyone answered to the question: “what would you do different, if you'd go again?” “I'd take more time to find the right vessel, with like minded and value sharing people.

Finding a boat is the easy part, finding the right and safe vessel aligned with your vibes and values, is the main challenge. With Ocean Nomads we now created a toolkit to help you dip your toes into the ocean nomads lifestyle , happy, safe, and meaningful.

How to find a sail boat ride across the Atlantic?

Here’s what I and ocean nomads have created for you to help you get out there, happy, safe, and meaningful.

It’s that time of the year again when many head south and west to follow the sun, catch the tradewinds, and realize ocean dreams.

Travelling an ocean on someone else’s sailing boat, or taking a stranger on board is not a straightforward endeavour. To be ready to expect the unexpected, careful investigation and preparation is essential. Four Ocean Crossings and 30.000 Miles of boat hitchhiking on dozens of vessels, as well as organizing crew for +10 different trips now, I figured out a few things, and keep learning:).

Here are the latest waypoints to help you on an ocean adventure, fun & impact:

• We’ve created resources and mini-courses on Sailing across the Atlantic, Offshore crew packing lists, Ocean crew preparing tips. Provisioning with minimum waste, Veggie recipes, Zero waste nomad life, and ocean education information. But the real value is the network you can tap into, find answers, connections, and support to make the ocean adventure dreams real.

• Because of that we can create way real value and attract real dedicated members only who are serious about making dreams real. 

NEW in 2024! The Sailboat Travel Crew Prep course.

I help you transition from being new to sailboat travel to a confident crew member securing a position safe, soon and sustainable. All my sailing lifestyle crew tips condensed into one pack. 

Ps. If any of the above has helped you, I'd love to hear so! Make a comment, leave a review on @oceanpreneur or @oceannomads.community, fill out the big Atlantic Ocean Crew survey

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On which boat have you crossed or would you be most exciting to cross the Atlantic?

Hi! My name is Suzanne. I'm here to excite and guide you into slow travel adventures, in tune with nature. 🗺️+15yr Fulltime Adventurer by Sail & Van 🧜‍♀️⛵️🚐✨🏕️

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📍Hiking across the Pyrenees 🐕🏕️ GR11 🧜‍♀️ Travel with nature 🗺️+15yr Fulltime Adventurer by Sail & Van 🧭Sail with me & @oceannomads.community

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The best appropriate boat is about 30 to 40 feet long. In case you using a smaller boat, there is a possibility that it may not withstand harsh weather conditions and ocean currents.

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Crossing the Atlantic on a Yacht in Comfort

Experienced cruisers often discover Kadey-Krogen Yachts because they begin to search for yachts capable of crossing the Atlantic. If one searches the listings for Transatlantic boats for sale or contacts a broker with a very specific request to hear about yachts that can cross the Atlantic, they’re bound to discover plenty of superyachts, and some custom trawlers, and, of course, a selection of our models that are built to take on long bluewater cruising legs such as one takes on for an ocean crossinig.

Those who are more serious about open-ocean crossings begin to think about the best time to cross the Atlantic west to east and also consider provisioning, crew, a timetable, potential destinations, and all the factors, large and small, that enter into this exciting equation.

Lessons Learned in more than two years of cruising in Northern Europe

Journey from Rhode Island to Ireland Via the Azores

Atlantic Ocean Crossing Experience

Ever wanted to sail a yacht across the Atlantic? It can be a daunting prospect, but if you are well-prepared it is an exciting and fulfilling challenge. This live blog series lifts the lid on what this bucket list experience is like on an Oyster Yacht. Join Oyster Crew member, Leandra Sewell, in her current reality...

Atlantic ocean crossing preparation.

For the past week we have been preparing to sail our Oyster yacht across the Atlantic. 

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is a huge adventure, and quite scary if you have never done it before. How do we know you are ready? Preparation is key.

Provisions, safety drills, stowage, passage plans, weather considerations are all vital. All this, along with crew selection and bonding has been kept us busy and helped us feel prepared while we soak up the last of the Caribbean sunsets. We have been putting in long hours to get our beautiful sailing yacht in peak condition to ensure a smooth trip as we depart Saint Martin, sailing the 3,500 miles across the Atlantic to Falmouth, UK. Some people might have done the journey before, but for others, like two of our excited crew members, it is their first time. Whether it is your first time or just another ocean crossing, it is important to do be thorough in your preparation in case you miss something. There is no room onboard for complacency!

Now we are all prepped and ready to cast off, we are looking forward to seeing beautiful sunrises and sunsets, a variety of ocean wildlife and enjoying the star-filled clear night skies horizon to horizon. It will be challenging not seeing land for days, and the crew are sure to take a while to  find their sea legs again when we set off. But we have loads of tea and chocolate (and dry crackers) to help us through queasy moments. That said, it is sure to be an incredible sailing experience and we are all looking forward to the adventure!

Read more about preparing for an Atlantic crossing.

We leave Saint Martin at the 9am bridge and set sail to Falmouth, UK. Fenders and lines are stowed and the first day of sailing gets under way. With plenty of food, water, chocolate, books, audio-books and downloaded series, we are mentally prepared for over 2 weeks at sea.

With seven crew onboard we have a rotating watch system of 3 hours on and 6 hours off, with 2 people on deck at all times. We are blessed with an amazing chef dedicated to feeding us and keeping us going!

A few miles out, we have some unexpected visitors – an unidentified speedboat appears and starts to follow us. The captain orders all below decks but it turns out to be the coastguards checking our destination before wishing us fair winds. With a worldwide pandemic and lock down in progress, I guess we should have expected some visitors!

The weather is warm, but the water is a bit rocky. A few of the crew laugh off the fact that they have lost their sea legs having been on land for a while, but some of us don't find feeling seasick funny. A couple of the crew feel nothing at all and some of the others celebrate this is their first Atlantic crossing!

We are all avoiding the crew mess and cabins up in the bow as we can feel our stomachs lurching. So we decide to soak up the sun astern while we wait for calmer waters.

It is always tough to get back into the swing of things on the first day, but wow, how lucky are we to be on this adventure. For some it's even more exciting to know they are going home. We are treated to a beautiful sunset this evening, followed by a shooting star on our night watch.

We are up and on deck at 3am just in time to be welcomed by an amazing green light as a meteor falls through the sky!

Let's be honest, seasickness is a huge part of sailing. It is all a bit hit and miss at the moment when you head down to the crew mess, going to the bathroom or having a shower. You have to get your balance and timing right with the movement of the boat. It can be rather frustrating but hilarious at the same time.

Still feeling rather seasick, dried crackers and toast are my staple diet. The best thing to do when you feel like this is to be outside on the aft deck, watching the horizon and getting some fresh air or sleeping, while making sure we have something in our stomachs. This too will pass.

As the morning progresses, the wind picks up to 15 knots and we hoist the staysail. Wildlife is already joining in – we found two flying fish tucked under the sail! A little later, we are visited by a school of dolphins swimming alongside us.

The evening sky is a riot of shades of pink and blue as the sun goes down. We all sit in the cockpit in the dark and have dinner together, it's so peaceful and relaxing.

We are all chatty while we settle into our watch cycles and get to know the new delivery crew, sharing the excitement of being on the move again!

As the night sky comes down, we saw thousands of bright stars and some of us spotted multiple shooting stars.

It's safe to say by day three we were all starting to feel much better, more lively and energetic! I could definitely move on from the dry crackers onto something tastier and could stay in the crew mess for more than a minute! It takes a few days for your body to adjust to the movement if you are not used to it but don’t let it put you off going on an adventure like this.

It is sunny, but the wind is cold. We put the staysail away, got the genoa out and had a good day sailing at around 12 knots. Making graceful progress, we were on a direct line to our destination, with our nose pointed straight to Falmouth.

Walking into the galley on a starboard tack, it was hilarious seeing the chef sliding around whilst trying to butter her toast!

A  cargo ship passed in the distance and four white seagulls flew alongside us. With no land in sight, where on earth do they come from?! 

There was some lovely team bonding when everyone was on deck after lunch. Some of the girls decided to catch a tan and we all cooled off with some watermelon.

Tonight, the moon is really bright. It's incredible how some nights it can be pitch black and other nights the moon lights up the sky.

The late hours of night watch have me staring up at the sky, counting shooting stars. I am always amazed when I think about how we are being held above water by a boat. Nothing around us and nothing above or below for a few thousand metres. Nothing but trust in a beautiful boat. It's a rush.

Sunrise watch from 4.30am to 7.30am. It’s beautiful to watch the sky change from dark to light while the stars fade and the sun peeks above the horizon. After making buckets of tea, the first part of our morning routine is recording our temperatures to show we are all healthy so we can land in the UK during lockdown.

The wind has calmed down, so the sails have been lowered and we’ve motored for a few miles. The boat started rolling but wasn't too uncomfortable – fortunately we are all used to the movement now, so no one feels seasick.

There is a lovely atmosphere on the aft deck. It’s warm, there is some laid-back rock music playing through the speakers and we are enjoying some fresh pineapple. Some of the crew are trying to get a stretch in, the girls are trying to balance in yoga poses and others are trying to top up their tans! 

Inside, we like to keep the shared areas shipshape, giving surfaces a wipe and the floor a good vacuum. Rolling around with a vacuum cleaner on a yacht can be quite entertaining… We also do daily restock checks to ensure snacks, water and drinks are available.

We jumped an hour ahead on the clocks today so we can slowly adjust our body clocks and avoid ‘jetlag’. We are now 4 hours behind the UK as we continue with our Atlantic Ocean crossing adventure. 

We are currently between two weather systems, chasing up a low pressure system, which means the wind is coming in clockwise. Swells are high at around 4 or 5 metres and the wind is strong with a top speed of 30 knots. It’s not just windy though, a few of us have been soaked in the rain too. The sails are trimmed in tightly as we sail close hauled, which is as close to the wind we can sail. This will keep us on our course towards the Azores. We’ll refuel there before we head out on the home stretch to Falmouth. 

We were on a starboard tack for some time but the wind has changed direction; everyone is happy to be on port tack for a change. The only concern now is whether the knots in my Lee cloths are strong enough to keep me from rolling out of my bunk in the middle of the night.

Halfway through every watch, one watchkeeper clips themselves onto the helm station to avoid any man overboard incidents when solo on deck. The lead watchkeeper can then go down to the engine room to check everything is in order. It’s always lovely when they come back up with a hot cup of tea! 

One of our crew members says she keeps seeing a white bird flying around the yacht. But whenever she tries to point it out to the lead watchkeeper, it dives behind the swell – he thinks she’s going crazy… She has named the bird Jim – maybe we’ll all meet him soon!

Sometimes on a trip nothing exciting or worth reporting happens; the days can feel very similar now everyone is in a solid routine. So the log simply says “NTR” – nothing to report. That said, we are all loving this voyage across the Atlantic, the friendships that are forming and all the yummy food.

The graveyard watch (1am to 4am) isn't so bad when you are listening to "bad guy" by Billie Eilish, sailing at 12 knots with 20 knots of true wind. It was such an adrenaline rush, like a scene out of Pirates of the Caribbean. The wind is getting a lot colder – we are all wearing our oilies (foul weather gear) and the heat of the Caribbean seems like a distant memory.

We had contact with an American gentleman via the VHS. He’s sailing solo across the Atlantic on a 30ft sailing yacht called Sola. He was a few miles out and we could see his sails up in the distance, but they often disappeared behind the swell. I guess it’s one way to isolate yourself during lockdown! 

The British crew loved this one! Home-made sausage rolls for lunch (veggie ones for me) and home-made cottage pie with HP sauce for dinner. It gave them a real sense they are heading home. We’re lucky enough to have Internet access, so we’ve all been catching up with friends and family – can’t wait to see them properly. We’re counting down the miles to the Azores. Today there was lots of cheering when we hit the under-1000-miles-to-go mark today. 

We’ve all settled into the rhythm of our watches now. It’s hard to talk with the wind blowing so hard, so some of us dance to the music on our headphones – it’s one way to communicate everything is okay. We jumped another hour in time today. We are now 3 hours behind the UK. Which means we are a little closer to our destination. Our body clocks have been thrown out completely – no-one is sure what day it is. That said, no-one pays too much attention to the time, only the alarms before their own watch. And mealtimes, of course ;).

The cockpit gets a good wash down every morning. It's amazing how much salt crystallizes on everything overnight and there will be a lot of polishing to do when we reach land. Later in the day, some more dolphins paid us a visit and this evening we spotted bioluminescence in the breaking waves. Nature is absolutely beautiful out here. 

The skies have been cloudy and grey so there wasn't much of a sunset with the overcast skies. The moon and stars are hidden and it is cold but I have been warned to toughen up as the UK will be even colder! Those not on deck are keeping warm inside, watching movies, reading or catching up on sleep.

The journey has become a lot calmer but we are still on port tack, so we still slide from one side to another when a big wave sneaks up and catches us off guard. As a result, I have become a pro at making tea for my lead watchkeeper. Mainly because when I left the mug on the side to fetch milk, the boat heeled over and sent it flying into the sink and I had to start over… 

We are now less than 500 miles from the Azores! There are a lot of happy faces today as the wind died down and we could actually enjoy the warmth of the sun on our faces. The chef brought out some warm banana bread. I’m loving the delicious smells that come from the galley, not to mention the homemade pizza we had for lunch. 

Today, I kept seeing purple, plastic-looking things floating in the water. It turns out they were sailing jellyfish, also known as "by-the-wind-sailor". They are half-moon shaped and they sit perfectly on the surface of the water. They were everywhere, like little sparkles in the water and I can’t believe I’ve never seen them before.

The sky started off cloudy tonight with a small rain shower. It cleared up beautifully (perfect timing, just before my watch) and I got to see a blood orange moon appear from behind the clouds. It’s all quiet now. I’ve just made hot chocolate for the lead watchkeeper and I’ve got one earphone in so I can start listening to a new audio-book.

Today’s post is a bit of a "NTR": the weather is isn’t up to much for sailing, so we are making way under engine. During the previous days under sail we covered a fair bit of ground, so we are keeping at a steady 8/9 knots to make sure we don't get to the Azores earlier than expected. 

None of us enjoyed a good night’s sleep - the waves were big and we were tossed from side to side. We have been lucky avoiding the rain and lack of wind so far. Some of us may have been caught by a little drizzle here and there, but not enough to get completely soaked.

On cold, cloudy days like this the crew like to get comfortable watching movies below deck, drinking copious amounts of tea or catching up on a few hours sleep. 

The chef is on a mission in the galley – she likes to prep food in large quantities for later. I take my hat off to her as she is still working while the boat is rolling like mad. You never know when the weather is going to be so bad that you can't use the galley. Preparation is key!

The night watch is cold and the sky is cloudy. Yet the moon is almost full and when it does show it’s face, it's so bright it lights up the whole deck.

Another beautiful sunrise; we’ve witnessed the sky painting so many different pictures just in one day. It can go from bright and sunny to grey with heavy cloud in a matter of minutes.  

Still motoring but in calmer waters, which is a relief. The boys set up the fishing rods, while the Captain pretended not to notice – catching a fish means we have to stop for a few minutes and landing them can be quite messy! There was a lot of excitement about what they might catch. They were putting their money on tuna and we were all dreaming of sesame crusted tuna for lunch. Mmmm. 

More dolphins! These were extremely playful and showing off. They came up close to the boat, probably a metre away and we watched them show jump and then swim underneath the boat while we ran to the other side hoping they would jump again. 

The whole team is on deck this afternoon, patiently waiting to get a bite on one of the fishing lines, or catching a breath of fresh air. Now the wind has died completely, it's pleasantly warm. One of the crew members is all cosy sitting in the cockpit reading her book and the Captain is sipping tea, of course! Others are sitting around the aft deck, eyes closed and taking in some vitamin D! 

We’ve spotted land!!! We are a few miles out from the Azores, which means we are in sight of a lot of other vessels, which makes watches more interesting as you have something to keep your eye on and to gauge distance. It is mainly fishing vessels. We can see the lights on land clearly at night and it's exciting to know that we will be there soon. Sadly we won’t be able to set foot on solid ground due to Coronavirus, not even to empty our rubbish bins.

We arrived in the Azores at 3am. Everyone on deck, we got the fenders and lines out and tied up to the dock, then headed to bed. The Captain and lead watchkeeper were having a cup of tea on deck when they noticed a car approaching the boat. They were told we needed to anchor away from port. Everyone out of bed again and we anchored just outside the harbour, then came back to the dock around 8am.

There was a smell of hot croissants through the boat while the boys were refuelling and washing down the boat. The girls were tidying the interior and getting some laundry done as fast as possible. Just after 11am we were on our way again, next stop: Falmouth! 

The water is unbelievably calm today, there is no wind and the sun is warming us all up.

Today we have a special birthday onboard – mine! Who gets to say they spent their birthday crossing the Atlantic? There are amazing smells of baking and other lovely aromas coming from the galley. Chef is taking complete advantage of flat waters and cooking up a storm! 

It was such a lovely day. We ate burgers in the cockpit for dinner, then hung out on the aft deck with music playing, taking photos, waiting for the sunset – all followed by the most delicious homemade chocolate cake! It was real home from home. 

There were lots of alarms going off this evening. The engineer rushed out to find that the lead watchkeeper had accidentally pressed the generator emergency stop button (with his bottom!) while doing engine checks…

In the meantime, we are making the most of these calm waters – according to the GRIB files it is about to get very windy and uncomfortable! 

Just as my early morning watch ended, the rain clouds gathered. Unfortunately my fellow crew member, who was taking over from me, got drenched. Getting below at 1.30 am, I was cold and desperate for a hot shower and bed! I don’t think our bodies will know what has hit us when we get back on dry land. Working and sleeping normal hours will be a challenge. We are expecting wobbly legs and the need to catch up on sleep (not to mention the occasional glass of wine!).

Another cloudy day with calmer waters. So it was comfortable to sit in the crew mess and have lunch without our food sliding off the plate or bottoms sliding off the seats. Everyone was excited for leftover birthday cake, which didn't last very long.

There are lots of cake lovers on board and our chef spoils us. Although she prepped a lot of banana bread and froze it before we left, she still comes out with freshly-baked pastries now and then, all very welcome.  The Captain has insisted banana bread is a staple part of our diet for future crossings. 

Everyone took up their usual positions when they weren’t on watch. Some snuggled up with a book, others relaxed in their cabins, and one crew member phoned home. Speaking to your family while at sea is a massive privilege, being able to let them know we are safe and how our day is going is amazing. The boys were out on deck again with the fishing rods, patiently waiting for their tuna. So far there’s not been so much as a nibble on the line!

We make a lot of hot chocolate and tea in the early hours of the morning. As well as warming the crew up, it also keeps us awake. We’ve been experimenting with balancing mugs of hot chocolate in the microwave. After many failed attempts (followed by yet another a clean-up) we found warming the milk in a plastic container then pouring it in the mug works best! 

The beautiful sunrise didn't last very long due to another cloud invasion. When we see rain clouds in the distance, we all raise our eyebrows and say "damn". At the same time, we’re all secretly planning ahead when we will make tea so we can get out of the rain for a bit.  

At 07:45 we hit the 1,000 nm-to-go mark – next stop, Falmouth. Yay! The sea is already changing colour – from a clean, clear turquoise of the Caribbean to the deep inky blue of the open ocean and now, finally, to a deep jade green. It’s another NTR day, with lots of visits to the snack cupboard to pass the time. We hijacked one of the lockers in the cockpit to store snacks and water, which is easy to get to and avoids having anyone to go into the mess in bumpy weather. We have a mix of Pringles, M&M's, nuts, breakfast bars, home-baked cookies and, of course, banana bread! 

Although it was late, we decided to have a girls’ evening in the snug. More tea (I don't think I’ve written, heard or said the word "tea" so much in my life as on this crossing). Someone bought the chocolate in and we had a lovely chat and laugh. These bonding moments are lovely and you can feel strong friendships forming.

A fresh but sunny morning – amazing how cheery everyone gets when the sun is out. The music kicks in and the dance moves come out. 

Today we spotted an Orca! We all jumped up and left our lunches to celebrate the moment. A few hours later a pod of playful dolphins surrounded the yacht. Could it get better? Oh yes! A little later, one of our crew members spotted a shark.

The rest of the day was fairly dull, with flat seas and more tea and digestive biscuits. The crew have been trying to sneak in workouts here and there. Push-ups, squats and planking are safest, especially while trying to balance on the boat. Some of the others distracted themselves with the fishing rods. And no, we still haven't caught anything!

We had another incredible sunset tonight. The sun sets later and later as we get closer to the UK and the sky was a rainbow of beautiful colours. During the late watch last night, one of our crew was fascinated by the amount of bioluminescence. At one point she was terrified by what looked like a blue torpedo heading towards the boat. After a small panic, she realised it was one of pod of dolphins covered in bioluminescence. What a magical day for wild sea life! 

In the quieter moments, we reflect on how strange is sailing back to this little island some of us call home. At the same time, we all feel so at home while we bob about on this beautiful boat out in the middle of the ocean.

Despite an overcast sky, our day started with beautifully calm waters. We saw dolphins swimming in the distance and a rainbow sprung up behind us. That said, it is really cold, so when the dolphins disappeared, the crew did too, seeking warmth.

The boys are still waiting for a fish (any fish!) to bite. But with the weather coming in they’ve had to stow the rods without a single fish caught this trip!

We keep checking the GRIB files for the weather and we are getting a little nervous. We are expecting 35 to 45 knots of wind this evening, which means an uncomfortable night ahead. It will be blowing too hard to put the sails up, which means we will have to motor through it. 

The day closes with a beautiful sunset but the sea gets progressively rough, with waves coming up right over the bow and falling on the aft. The watchkeepers are covered in salt and our oilies have gone from being black to white. The salt is even sticking to our eyebrows. 

In anticipation of the weather, we all relocated to the crew mess and saloon to sleep. We also made sure we’d all eaten in the case we get seasick. Everything was rattling throughout the boat, and we prayed the guest glasses wouldn’t get smashed! 

2 am. As we dozed off, we would get thrown around by the movement of the boat in swells of up to 8 metres with 45 knots blowing upwind. The was an ongoing challenge of keeping our hands in our pockets to keep warm or to hold on to avoid being thrown over. At one point the yacht was heeling at 45 degrees, leaving the engineer and first officer hanging onto a handle for dear life while their feet were lifted a metre off the ground. There was no way anyone was going to sleep through this. 

With minimum rest, this has been the hardest day of the entire trip. No sleep and shorter rest periods saw to that. No-one had much of an appetite, not even for the normally ubiquitous cups of tea. We didn't see much of each other either, huddled below to keep warm between watches. Unimpressed hardly describes a day of 45 knots of freezing cold wind.

When I came up on deck for my next watch, I could see land in the distance. Today, in these conditions, it was even more exciting than usual. As we got closer the water got calmer and we were finally able to have a reviving cup of tea while planning how we were going to drop anchor.

Just before midnight, we slowly made our way into the Falmouth Marina Channel where we dropped the anchor just outside the Marina. 

What a day! Red eyes and hands so numb with cold we couldn't feel the zippers on our jackets. We changed the clocks so we are on UK time, then crawled into our warm beds, grateful to be near land. No surprise, everyone slept soundly!

9.30 am: we raised the anchor and made our way into the Marina. We have arrived:tied up to the dock and happy to see land. We received a warm welcome from the marina with lovely cream teas – we definitely know we are home.

We did a quick tidy inside the boat and gave the deck a wash down, rinsing the salt off our oilies at the same time. Once the boat was sorted out, we went ashore to stretch our legs and feel solid ground land under our feet for the first time in more than two weeks.

Falmouth is a cute town with beautiful painted houses in lots of different colours. Everything is closed and social distance is very evident. Being at sea for so long, you forget how much this virus is affecting everything and everyone. Despite all that, there are still a few people out and about who are happy to give you a warm smile! 

Looking back, it's hard to believe we are here – the time went so fast. (It didn't feel that way in the middle of a long cold watch in the dark!) Everyone did so well and we worked well together as a team. Later in the evening, we sat around the table with hot soup, laughing about the fact that we didn't think we were going to make it through the rough weather over the last 48 hours. But we did and tonight we sat with a few beers, wine and fish and chips, to celebrate while we reminisced about all the good memories we made!

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Can Yachts Cross The Pacific & Atlantic Oceans?

Both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans can be crossed in a yacht.  You can cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans on a sailing yacht or a motor yacht. It would be best to have a big enough tank to hold the amount of fuel you expect to burn.

This being said, not all yachts are capable of making these trips.  If you decide to cross either of these oceans, you’ll want to make sure you have an ocean-faring yacht as well as the equipment and skills needed to make the trip.

Some yachts will not hold enough fuel to complete the trip and will typically be shipped on freighters designed for this.

In this post, I’ll go over some of the important facts you should know about yachts before you decide to make your voyage:

Table of Contents

Category “A” Yachts Are Ideal For Open Oceans

Yachts are categorized into four main categories.

These categories range from A to D, and they determine what type of waters the yacht was built to navigate.

Category “D” Yachts

A category D yacht is only rated for inland or sheltered coastal waters.

You can use them on lakes and rivers and even protected harbors.

They’ll do well as long as the waves don’t reach heights of over 4 feet.

Category “C” Yachts

A category C yacht is rated to be used inshore.

This means that it can head away from the protected harbors, but it shouldn’t go very far.  Large bays and lakes can be navigated, and the boat can take on waves up to 8 feet high.

Category “B” Yachts

A category B yacht is designed to go offshore.

It can handle strong winds and waves of up to 13 feet.

While you probably wouldn’t want to do an ocean crossing in this vessel, it might be able to handle one of the weather stayed calm for an extended period of time.

One of the issues a category B would have is that it might not be built to be self-sustaining for the length of time needed to cross an ocean.

Also, it wouldn’t be able to hold up in the event of an extreme foul-weather event.

Category “A” Yachts

On the other hand, Category A boats are designed to sustain themselves for long voyages like a crossing of the world’s oceans.

They are made to withstand rough weather and storms so you won’t get lost in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific.

They are longer than 40 feet and can take on waves of up to 23 feet.  These boats can also take on strong winds of at least 47 knots.

They have weather systems and advanced computers that help you calculate and master the long trip of crossing the biggest seas.

Who Determines How A Yacht Is Categorized?

The manufacturer or boat builder will initially determine which category the boat should fall under.

However, this shouldn’t be the only determining factor.

To ensure that the yacht is actually built correctly for trips over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it should be certified by the International Marine Certification Institute.

When you’re looking to buy a yacht, make sure it has been rated by this institute.  You can do this by looking for a certification plaque that will be mounted on the bulkhead.

Your Motor Yacht Should Be Able to Carry 1.5 Times The Amount of Fuel You’ll Need

Sailing yachts are often better suited for longer ocean crossings.  One of the main reasons for this is that they can sail themselves for an indefinite amount of time.

This being said, you don’t have to own a sailing yacht to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific.  A large motor yacht can potentially make the trip as well if it is designed for it.

How Much Fuel Is Needed To Cross The Atlantic & Pacific ocean?

For a medium-sized yacht, you should expect to have at least 500 gallons of fuel (2000 liters), unless you have sails.

If you are motoring in a big yacht, you will need more than that. You should bring 1.5 times the amount you expect to burn.

The motor yacht will need to be able to hold more than enough fuel for the trip, though.

This is because strong winds and currents can drastically increase the amount of fuel needed to complete a voyage.  For this reason, many veteran sailors say that you should bring about 1.5 times the amount of fuel you think you’ll actually need to complete the voyage.

Remember, running out of fuel in the middle of the ocean is a whole lot different than running out of fuel while cruising up the coastline.

You may not see anyone for days in the ocean, and even if you do, they probably won’t be able to tow you back to shore.

Remember the boating flag rules if you travel abroad .

How Long Time Does It Take To Cross The Atlantic & Pacific Seas?

It will take around 20 days or more to cross the Atlantic ocean and potentially much more if you are using your sails instead of the motor.

Depending on the weather conditions, it can take significantly longer to cross the Pacific ocean with a large yacht with a strong motor.

These are very general numbers.

They will vary a lot according to how much fuel you are willing to burn. The faster your motor, the more fuel you will burn. You can also cross the oceans with a yacht with sails.

This will save fuel but be slower because of the boat’s characteristics and since you are much more dependent on the weather conditions.

You May Need to Upgrade Some of Your Systems

It takes a significant amount of time to make an ocean crossing.

During this time, you’ll need to meet your food, water, and energy requirements.  You’ll also need to navigate the boat continuously.

Modern technology makes meeting these needs much easier.

In addition to having good navigation equipment, here are some systems you may want to consider upgrading to make life easier on the ocean.

• Your water maker.
• Your power generation systems.
• Your freezer.
• Your autopilot.

Water Makers

A watermaker will give you the ability to make your own potable water throughout your journey.

This cuts down on how much freshwater you need to pack and makes your yacht more self-sufficient.

This is important for a trip as long as crossing the Atlantic or Pacific sea.

Remember, your freshwater needs aren’t just restricted to drinking water.  You’ll need fresh water for bathing, cooking, and for washing your yacht off as well.  Most yachts will need daily cleanings as saltwater can quickly take its toll on a yacht’s decks and make the windows difficult to see through.

Power Generation Systems

A yacht can generate its own power using the sun, the wind, and the water.

They do this through the use of wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro-generators.

Wind turbines can create an impressive amount of energy in high winds.  However, most people will want to travel downwind, which reduces the amount of power that the wind turbine can generate.

Solar panels work great on sunny days while the panels are angled towards the sun.

The drawback is that they do not work nearly as well when they’re shaded, and every day is not a sunny day while out on the water or land for that matter.

Hydro-generators, on the other hand, can generate power 24 hours a day.  This is because the water’s movement powers them, and since you’ll be traveling day and night, you’ll always be generating energy.

The only drawback is that a hydro-generator does not produce a lot of energy at one time, and on sailboats, they will slow you down.

What Is The Best System to Use?

The best power generation system is a system that makes use of all of the technologies available.

Your energy requirements during an ocean crossing can be extremely high.  Not only this but yachts, in general, tend to need more power than other vessels.

Add a hydro-generator, a wind turbine, and some solar panels to your system, and you’ll have power day and night whether your crossing wide-open expanses or anchor at one of the islands along the way.  Larger sailing and power yachts also will typically have a diesel-powered generator or gen-set.

This one might be obvious, but you’ll need to pack a lot of food for your voyage.

Increasing the size and number of freezers you bring with you will increase the amount of meat and fruit you can bring.

Of course, you could skip this step and go with mostly dry foods instead.  But honestly, what yacht owner wants to subsist on a daily diet of rice and beans?

Autopilot Systems

Your yacht will be moving at all times, and someone or something will need to be navigating it.

Autopilot systems make navigation easy and make an ocean crossing much less taxing.

Bring a backup autopilot system or spare parts for your existing system so that you can make any repairs necessary to keep it working throughout the entire trip.

Fail to do this, and you’ll find that the crew has to spend a lot more time navigating and a lot less time enjoying the journey.

Remember, it takes more than 20 days, at least, to cross the Atlantic ocean.

Your Crew Should Have Ocean Crossing Experience

It is possible to make an ocean crossing by yourself, but it isn’t recommended.

This is especially true if you’re making the crossing on a yacht.

The reason being, a yacht is going to be larger and more difficult to manage alone than a small sailing craft would be to manage alone.

For this reason, you’ll probably want to hire a crew or bring along plenty of friends or family members that can help you make the trip.  At least one person on the crew should have some experience making an ocean crossing.

This person’s knowledge could prove invaluable both before and during the long trip.  You and your other passengers should also have some experience with long passages so that you all know what to expect.

Trade Winds Will Dictate Your Voyage

You might think that you can easily shorten the time it takes to cross the Atlantic or Pacific oceans by making it a more direct one.

Unfortunately, this isn’t true, and your route will largely be dependent on trade winds.

What I mean by this is that you’ll end up traveling in a direction that follows the prevailing winds, so you are mostly traveling downwind.  This reduces the stress on your boat, makes the ride more enjoyable, and even makes it quicker.

Final Thoughts

Many people have crossed the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans in yachts and many other types of watercraft.

Some experience and adequate preparations are important for a safe adventure.

If you’re planning on making the trip on your yacht, make sure you have the right boat for the job, the right crew for the journey, and the right technology to make everything simple and easy.

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

How to cross the Atlantic in short hops

• October 7, 2021

If a non-stop eastbound Atlantic crossing seems daunting, there may be another option, which offers shorter periods at sea and spectacular scenery, but brings its own challenges...

An Atlantic crossing is – rightly – considered a bit of an epic. An east-bound crossing, often even more so. But by following the seafarers of old, on what is pleasingly known as the Viking Route , it’s possible to cross from tropical Florida or metropolitan New York to Europe with less than a week at sea at any one time.

That’s not to say it’s an easy option. A high latitudes voyage into the North Atlantic demands respect and serious preparation to sail in remote areas with increased risk of severe weather and sea ice. But the rewards can be spectacular.

Alberto Duhau sailed his Hylas 63 Shaima from Florida to the Mediterranean one summer, by heading north along the east coast of the US, across the North Atlantic via Newfoundland, Greenland and Iceland, then south to Europe via the Faroe Islands. Here’s how he did it:

1 Newfoundland to southern Greenland

During July, high pressure is typically centred just south-west/west of the Azores with ridging extending south-west/west towards Bermuda. There is a weak high over Greenland, with low pressure generally over north-east Canada (Baffin Island to northern Quebec) and near Iceland.

To the north of the Azores high, the prevailing winds are west/south-west for much of the way to Iceland. Wind is usually stronger south of the rhumbline, and lighter to the north. July offers the lowest chance of gales, but occasionally stronger lows develop and move east/south-east from eastern Canada.

2 Greenland to Iceland

For this passage the main concern is the north-easterly wind near Greenland’s Cape Farewell. If the Greenland high pressure system is stronger than normal, beware of north-easterly winds along the south Greenland coast of 25-30 knots plus.

Article continues below…

Expect light conditions heading east toward Iceland. If south of the rhumbline, there is greater chance of stronger westerly/south-westerly winds, while a northerly route is more likely to encounter north-easterly/easterly headwinds.

Packing up the sails, Northern Iceland

3 Around Iceland and to Faroes

Circumnavigating Iceland at the end of July and beginning of August is the optimum timing with the smallest threat of gales, but you may have to wait out bad winds for a day or two for a window.

The roughest weather is associated with low pressure passing to the west, north-west, or west, which correspondingly means the strongest winds are south-westerly, westerly, and north-westerly.

Avoiding North Atlantic storms and ice

Alberto Duhau enlisted the advice of expert meteorologists in advance of his north Atlantic trip. He knew the voyage was possible in good conditions, but wanted a second opinion regarding timings. 

Research revealed that the region’s quietest weather historically occurs between mid-July and the first 10 days of August. However, settled conditions can run from late June to the end of August. Autumn develops earlier the farther north you are, so it is generally a good plan to turn south by the second half of August. 

Duhau also contacted the well-known expedition support High Latitudes for help with ice routing between Newfoundland and Iceland. Founder and experienced pilot Magnus Day joined the crew for this part of the cruise.

“Ice is possible anywhere from Nova Scotia to about 150 miles south and east of Cape Farewell,” Day warns. “All ice should be regarded as dangerous to small vessels.”

Ice charts are available from the Canadian Ice Service ( ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca ) and the Danish Maritime Authority ( dma.dk ) and are useful as a guide, but must not be relied upon. Radar is also a useful tool, but it may not pick up even large pieces of ice in certain conditions.

Ice in the Labrador Sea will usually be thicker along the Newfoundland and Greenland coasts. Commanders’ Weather recommends heading due east until around 45°W, then turning north.

Magnus Day broadly concurs. “A wise tactic to lessen the chances of encountering ice is to head square offshore until outside the reported ice zone, then more or less parallel to the axis of the Labrador Sea until adjacent to your destination, before turning in square to the shore again.” He recommends motoring if the wind is light.

Day’s other top tips include:

• Have one or more crew outside on deck paying close attention for ice at ALL times.
• Ideally have two crew rotating on every watch – one on deck keeping a visual lookout while the other keeps a radar watch and makes the coffee etc. Roles should be swapped as regularly as every 15 minutes to help maintain levels of alertness.
• Ask passing vessels if they have seen any ice locally. Likewise, when in port talk to locals and ask them what they’ve seen recently and if there are areas locally which collect ice.
• Crew need to be dressed to stand outside in freezing temperatures with wind and waves coming over the deck for long periods of time. Think about how you can create shelter for them on deck. 
• Never drop your guard. It only takes one piece of ice to bash a hole in your hull as you fall off a wave.

Expert advice for ice regions

Commanders’ Weather has been advising sailors about optimum weather routing for over 25 years. Their expert meteorologists have supplied forecasts for cruisers and racers, including the SailGP circuit, Olympic sailing teams and Comanche ’s 2016 Atlantic record. See commandersweather.com

As well as pilotage, High Latitudes has the expertise to plan itineraries in both polar regions, secure the necessary environmental permits, offer logistical support and work on modifications to suit a yacht for ice. See highlatitudes.com

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